Edwards: Studley need to work on a Plan B after not scoring in opening games

Redditch Editorial 10th Aug, 2018

JOHN EDWARDS warned Studley will need to work on a Plan B after failing to score in their first two matches of the Midland League Division One season.

After an opening-day goalless draw at Heath Hayes, the Bees conceded from an injury-time corner to lose 1-0 to Leicester Road on Tuesday having played the final half an hour with ten men after Jarrell Hylton was sent off.

But Studley will reflect on having had chances in both games and joint-bosses Edwards and Wayne Bunn say the squad needs to have other goalscoring options from set-pieces as well as from their free-flowing football.

“With a little bit of luck, we could have won both games and at the very lease we deserved to have four points rather than one,” said Edwards. “In both games we have had chances.

“Our forwards and attacking players are misfiring a little but there’s no need to panic. It’s about fine lines.

“The pitches aren’t great at the moment, they’re a bit bobbly with the lack of rain and we’re a team that wants to play on the floor so these sort of pitches don’t help us. But we need to have a Plan B.

“Leicester scored from a corner with virtually the last kick and we need to learn to score from set-pieces. It’s something we know we need to address.”

Studley will look to erase the disappointment tomorrow (Saturday) when they entertain Coventry Copsewood.

However, holidays mean key men Jordan Jones and Joe Adams are missing and Dave Edwards is ruled out through injury.

Two players – goalkeeper Jack Hartopp and full-back Jake Wicketts – have also exited the Beehive after being omitted from the opening fixtures and Edwards says changes will be inevitable as the squad settles down.

Striker Hylton also faces a suspension after his red card against Leicester Road and Edwards stressed the former Redditch United youngster must learn from his misdemeanour. He was sent off on the hour mark for retaliation after being targeted by the visitors’ defenders.

“He got a little bit of attention, shall we say, and he retaliated and lashed out,” said Edwards. “There’s no complaints from me about the decision to send him off but hopefully he will learn from it. Defenders will try to put strikers off their game and he needs to learn not to react.”

On Tuesday, Amar Sandhu bagged the only goal, converting from a flag-kick with virtually the last kick of the contest, after Leicester and Studley traded chances in a close-fought encounter.

On Saturday, it had been nip and tuck early on but Studley had their opportunities, only for Hayes keeper Tom Burns to keep out a couple of efforts from Dan Carter.

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